Articles 2023

The release of MDS Inc. v. Factory Mutual Insurance Company from the Ontario Court of Appeal, rounded out 2021 with another major insurance-related appellate decision primarily authored by Justice Julie Thorburn (also responsible for crafting the written reasons in the seminal multi-insurer coverage decision, Markham (City) v. AIG released in mid-2020). This article summarizes why the MDS v. Factory Mutual decision is important for any insurance-related and contractual interpretation dispute.

An insurer requests the Court of Appeal rewrite an exclusion in the insurer’s favour.

Who should be responsible for paying for productions prior to examinations for discovery in personal injury matters? It is my position that the onus of proof remains with the Plaintiff and that, therefore, they should be producing documentation to substantiate the claims advanced in the Statement of Claim. Why should the Defendant pay for productions to assist the Plaintiff’s claim? In the decision of Rheaume v. Foster, we received some more clarity on this issue.

The Ontario Bar Association’s Neutral Diversity Committee has crafted a survey to collect information about OBA member experiences and views in relation to mediator and arbitrator diversity. OBA members engaged in litigation, mediation and arbitration are invited to share their views.

Many businesses across a range of industries have suffered significant financial loss caused by COVID-19. This article explores potential insurance coverage to help offset the losses caused by COVID-19. Business interruption insurance and event cancellation insurance are specifically addressed, and practical tips are provided to help maximize potential insurance coverage.

Insurers should be aware of the recent costs decision in Przyk v. Hamilton Retirement Group Ltd. This case sets an adverse precedent to insurers that employ strict policies against paying out modest claims, categorized as defensible, prior to trial. Even if the insurer succeeds at trial on the merits, the court may award no costs to that insurer.

This article gives an overview of the CPD program conducted by the Insurance Law Section in 2018 which was well received and is returning on November 22, 2019. This program contains a total of 3 hours of Professionalism content and it qualifies for LAWPRO Risk Management Credit.